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ACNS 2856 - KENYA - 2 February 2002

Anglican-Baptist International Conversations (ABIC):
Africa Phase Communiqui

Nairobi

26 January 2002

An African phase of international conversations between Anglicans and
Baptists was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24-26 January 2001. This regional
meeting follows two previous phases held in Norwich (for Europe) in 2000 and
Yangon (for Asia/Pacific) in 2001. Participants came, representing their
respective Churches in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda
and Zimbabwe and joined the members of the "continuation committee" which is
conducting these regional gatherings on behalf of the Baptist World Alliance
and the Anglican Communion.

On the first evening, the Revd Daniel Theuri and the Revd Samson Ojienda of
the Kenya Baptist Convention and the Revd Chalton Ochola of the Anglican
Church of Kenya welcomed the delegates on behalf of the local churches. The
Anglican and Baptist representatives gave an overview of the life of their
respective communions in Africa. Presentations were given on aspects of
baptism, local Anglican-Baptist relations, and mission and ministry in the
African Church. The plenary discussion drew together some rich insights from
the African context into the themes which emerged from previous regional
conversations, namely: continuity and story; recognition and acceptance;
contextual mission and ministry; baptism and Christian initiation;
membership and community; oversight and episcope; and confessing the faith.
Many common concerns from Baptists and Anglicans were shared with regard to
the experience of "partnership" with overseas Churches. In reflecting on the
story of Baptist and Anglican life in Africa, many perspectives were shared
on the place of the ancestors in the faith, on the prophetic role of the
Church in society, and on Church growth, evangelism and Church planting. A
special presentation was given by the Revd Sam Harrell on the "Kids to Kids"
programme which involves Anglicans and Baptists, among others, in providing
for approximately 60 of Nairobi's street children every day. Indeed, the
challenges facing Anglicans and Baptists as their Churches seek to address
the great needs of the African continent were underlined in the many
testimonies of the participants.

The participants concluded by recognising the depth of fellowship shared at
the meeting and departed with an African song of hope, Anaweza anaweza
bwana - the Lord is able!

The ABIC is the official instrument of the Churches of the Anglican
Communion and the Baptist World Alliance engaged in theological discussions
which have the following objectives:

1. To enable Anglican/Baptists to learn from each other and to deepen
understanding of relationships between our two communions in the light of
their histories.

2. To share with each other how we understand the Christian faith and to
work toward a common confession of the Apostolic Faith.

3. To identify issues of doctrine and the nature of the church to be
explored further in possible future conversations.

4. To look for ways to cooperate in mission and community activities and
increase our fellowship and common witness to the Gospel.

Further meetings will be held in 2003 in the Caribbean, Latin America and
North America. There is a continuing committee consisting of four Anglicans
and four Baptists who will draft a report following the regional meetings to
be submitted to the Anglican Consultative Council and the Baptist World
Alliance in 2005.

The following persons participated in the Nairobi meeting:

Anglicans:

Victor Atta-Baffoe (Ghana)
Paul Avis (England, acting co-chairman, continuation committee)
Alyson Barnett-Cowan (Canada, continuation committee)
David Hamid (Co-secretary, continuation committee, Anglican Communion
Office)
Nolbert Kunonga (Zimbabwe)
Valentino Mokiwa (Tanzania)
Hannington Mutebi (Uganda)
Chalton Ochola (Kenya)
Nicholas Okoh (Nigeria)
Linda Schwartz (South Africa)

Baptists:

Frank Adams (Ghana)
Chamanorwa Chiroma (Zimbabwe)
Tony Cupit (Co-secretary, continuation committee, Baptist World Alliance)
Paul Fiddes (England, co-chairman, continuation committee)
Louise Kretzschmar (South Africa)
Ken Manley (Australia, continuation committee)
Douglas Waruta (Kenya)
Malcolm Yarnell (USA, continuation committee)

Administrative support was provided by Frances Hiller from the Anglican
Communion Office.

For Information Contact:

The Revd Canon David Hamid
Anglican Communion Office, London
Tel.: +44 20 7620 1110
dhamid@anglicancommunion.org

The Revd Tony Cupit
Baptist World Alliance
Tel.: +1 703 790 8980
Email: tony@bwanet.org

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